Wakatipu Mining Notes. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Otago Witness, Issue 1915, 3 August 1888, Page 12

Wakatipu Mining Notes. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Ahhow, July 31.

The snowfall last week has pretty nearly pub a stop to all outdoor mining work. The winter up to the week before last has been an exceptionally open one, and it being now the end of July, we can in the ordinary course of things look forward to mild weather in at the least three weeks' time. The quantity of snow on the hills is far in excess of the average amount ; indeed, it may be questioned whether there! haß been at any former time a like heavy deposit. The mountains, which usually show black patches, are now one uninterrupted white mass, the gulches and hollows being filled up level, so that many familiar scenes present quitfl an altered appearance. There is every probability that parties living in outlying gullies and isolated localities will suffer some hardships on account of the snow, and in many cases it will be extremely risky for men to go and visit their nearest neighbours, except in company with a long-handled shovel. Under these circumstances mining news is extremely scarce.

Messrs Arthur Ford and party, at the Twomilo creek, Lake Wakatipu, have succeeded, after a groat amount of persistent labour, in finding the outlet to their grouud. The sidling rocks forming, the gorge bping fully exposed. The party is now down to the gravel, and hope to striko the wash soon. This undertaking has been one of great magnitude and risk, so that the men are to be congratulated upon their success so far.

Here again the observation obtrudes itself that this instance of success, attained by private enterprise after overcoming difficulties which would have crushed a public company,'shows that it is owing to the pluck and enterprise still lingering amongst the pioneers of the district that mining, and especially alluvial mining, is in so hopeful a condition, as is shown in my recent report?, and not to any outside aid of capital or syndicates.